Our Technology
CEREC 3D
Smile For Life - Your Local Cerec Experts
Technology today is changing our everyday lives. Many people, however, are not aware that technology also is impacting dentistry in new and exciting ways. Cutting-edge innovation in dental instruments is requiring less time in the dental chair, causing less discomfort and creating satisfying results. One breakthrough instrument, called CEREC 3D, allows us to quickly restore damaged teeth with natural-colored ceramic fillings and crowns, saving patients time and inconvenience. With over 20 years using the CEREC 3D to help our patients, our team has the most experience in all of North Central Washington.
How does CEREC 3D work?
CEREC 3D uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one instrument. First, we prepare the damaged tooth. Using a special camera, we then take a high definition 3D scan of the prepared tooth. This optical impression (No need for a messy lab impression) is transferred and displayed on a color computer screen, where we use CAD technology to design the restoration. Then, CAM takes over and automatically creates the restoration while the patient waits. Finally, we bond the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth. The whole process takes about an hour and a half.
What advantages does CEREC 3D offer?
- The restoration is performed in a single session, usually in about 20-30 minutes working time, followed by 30-40 minutes you can relax while we make your restoration before cementing it
- No need to make an impression and send it to the lab
- No return visits are necessary, which means not getting numb again or dealing with a temporary crown for weeks
- The restoration is natural looking, as it is made out of tooth-colored ceramic material
- Ceramic material is biocompatible, high-grade, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant
- Metal-free, no silver-colored fillings
- Allows us to save more of the healthy tooth
- Extremely precise
3D Printing
3D printing is one of the newest technologies in dentistry and Smile For Life is at the cutting edge of this digital revolution. Cerec helped us transform the patient experience of getting a dental crown, and our 3D printer now allows us to transform the way we perform many other dental procedures as well. We can 3D print things such as dental models, nightguards, Invisalign retainers, and even complete dentures. It also plays a key role in our workflow for precision guided dental implant surgery, as well as digitally designed smile makeovers. Ultimately, we use our 3D printer to make your dental experience more efficient, precise and predictable, as well as less invasive, painful, and even less expensive.
How it works
- Both Cerec and 3D printing processes start with using a digital camera to take a high definition 3D scan of your mouth rather than old school goopy impressions.
- We use that to create a digital design using specialized software.
- That is where the two technologies diverge. The rest of the Cerec process is "subtractive", meaning that a pre-made block of material is milled or ground down to the precise 3D shape of a crown.
- In contrast, 3D printing is an "additive" process where the object is slowly formed layer by layer using a laser to harden a liquid resin. This allows larger sized objects like a full arch of teeth rather than a single crown, as well as complex shapes that subtractive milling can't achieve. It also generates less wasted material than milling or traditional methods.
- After initial curing, the item is cleaned, dried and placed in an LED oven for a secondary light curing to final hardness, then polished up.
Pros and Cons
- Extremely precise, printed in layers as thin as 50 microns (thinner than human hair).
- Wide range of materials available, each with its own optimized properties. For example, 3D printed night guard materials have some distinct advantages over traditional nightguards when it comes to balancing strength and flexibility.
- The 3D printing process typically takes too long for a single appointment, so not as well suited as Cerec for crowns, but the fact we can perform many of our lab procedures in-house still reduces the time required in between appointments.
Cone-beam Computed Tomography
Dental CT Scanner (CBCT) is a 3D Panoramic X-ray. This allows us to visualize the jawbone, teeth, sinuses, and airway in 3D and to diagnose conditions we would often otherwise not be able to detect with traditional x-rays. 3D imaging is also critical to proper planning for dental implant treatment. At Smile For Life, we are able to merge a high definition Cerec scan of the teeth with this 3D x-ray of the jawbone to pre-plan the precise angle and depth of an implant, then use our 3D printer to make a custom surgical guide which greatly increases the speed and accuracy of surgical placement and often allows a minimally invasive surgical approach which makes recovery virtually painless. This is a primary example of how Smile For Life uses all of our technologies in tandem to transform the patient experience.
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Waterlase
Waterlase dentistry
Today, our attention to the patient's comfort is a very important part of what we do. Waterlase Dentistry uses a patented combination of laser energy and water — a process called HydroPhotonics — to perform a wide range of dental procedures on teeth, gums and bone more comfortably.
Waterlase Dentists typically use fewer shots and less anesthesia to provide a more comfortable dental experience. Waterlase Dentistry has many advantages over conventional dental instruments.
How we use Waterlase to help our patients
We primarily use the Waterlase for gum procedures such as gumline contouring or crown lengthening procedures, which is a less invasive method with easier recovery than traditional surgical approaches. In addition, unlike most other dental lasers which can ONLY work on soft gum tissue, the Waterlase can actually be used to perform other advanced procedures involving hard tissue as well.
We can remove decay from the enamel (hardest substance in your body) without the need for a drill. We can contour bone around a tooth or implant without the trauma that traditional surgical approaches may induce on the tooth or implant. With a low energy setting of the laser, it can aid us in disinfecting a root canal, or to significantly reduce the severity and duration of canker sores or viral cold sores. In short, the Waterlase is a versatile tool for many of the procedures we perform in our modern office.
- Your Comfort: Since the Waterlase laser cuts hard and soft tissue without heat, vibration or pressure, we may be able to perform your procedure with fewer shots and less anesthesia.
- Accuracy and Precision: We can remove decay in tooth enamel (the hardest substance in the human body!) while leaving the surrounding tooth unaffected.
- Reduced Trauma: The gentle action of the Waterlase laser reduces damage to healthy portions of the tooth, minimizing trauma.
- Improved Cavity Fillings: Waterlase cavity preparations increase bond strength of tooth-colored restorations for longer lasting fillings.
- Fewer Dental Visits: Since you may not need shots or anesthesia, we may be able to perform cavity preparation in several areas of your mouth, rather than having you come back for multiple visits.
- Less Bleeding and Swelling: Due to its gentle cutting action and coagulating capabilities the Waterlase laser performs many procedures on gums and other soft tissues with little or no bleeding and less post-operative swelling.
- Safety: We're trained and in our hands, the Waterlase is a safe medical device. We are committed to providing you with the best possible care and dental experience.
- Versatility: The Waterlase laser was first cleared by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to cut tooth structure in 1998, and has since received over 60 additional clearances for a wide range of procedures on teeth, gums and bone.
Eccovision Acoustic Diagnostic Pharyngometer and Rhinometer
What is EADP&R?
Eccovision Acoustic Diagnostic Pharyngometer and Rhinometer (EADP&R) is a digital device which uses acoustic waveform imaging to measure the airway resistance of an individual's nose and throat. It is a non-invasive, painless procedure which provides our team with a detailed report of the size and shape of your upper airway system, including your nasal cavities, eustachian tubes, and throat.
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EADP&R Benefits:
At Smile for Life Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we are proud to offer EADP&R services to our patients in Wenatchee so that they can experience all of these benefits:
- Get a detailed understanding of how your nasal passages and throat are functioning
- Identify any potential health risks associated with sleep apnea or snoring
- Develop personalized treatment plans based on accurate measurements provided by the device
- Monitor treatment progress and efficiently adjust any necessary treatments
- Reduce unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office since all tests can be done at our office conveniently
Using EADP&R, we are able to provide a comprehensive look into your health which allows us to create more targeted and effective treatments. Our team is committed to providing you with the best possible care so that you can enjoy a healthier life.
Ready to Learn More?
If you're ready to learn more about how Smile for Life Family & Cosmetic Dentistry can help you using the Eccovision Acoustic Diagnostic Pharyngometer and Rhinometer (EADP&R) services in our Wenatchee office, give us a call at (509) 663-1161 or come visit us in person at 222 N. Mission St. Wenatchee, WA 98801! We look forward to helping you improve your health and well-being.
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Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8AM to 5PM
Friday - Sunday: Closed